Back in 2011, NYC-based metal blog MetalSucks released a pair of free "NYC Sucks" compilations that featured music by small-to-midsized area bands. (You can find Volume 1 here and Volume 2 here.) Some of the featured bands went on to great things while others fizzled, but together, the two comps remain a telling snapshot of the heavy music landscape in the city at the time.

Three years down the line, MetalSucks have released the first of two more NYC Sucks comps. Unsurprisingly, NYC Sucks Volume 3 features a lot of bands that we've covered here on BV -- Primitive Weapons, Sannhet, So Hideous, Natur, Tidal Arms & Car Bomb all come to mind. It includes some under-the-radar gems, too (Black Table, Ruine, etc.) You can stream the full thing and check out the track listing below, or you can download it for free here.

Some of these bands have upcoming local shows, too. So Hideous are appearing at Saint Vitus tonight (3/31) with Abigail Williams and fellow locals Cryptodira; Natur are hitting Black Bear Bar (formerly Public Assembly) on April 11 in support of old-guard UK metallers Satan on their first North American tour; and Sannhet will be supporting Yamantaka // Sonic Titan at their upcoming Baby's All Right show on 4/13, along with Odonis Odonis.

I can't tell you how many great bands I have seen over the years at Precious Metal at NYC club Lit Lounge on Mondays. The series, curated by Wetnurse/Today is the Day member Curran Reynolds, is responsible not only for the first appearances from some favorite bands but also many many personal friendships forged in that dingy basement. Now after more than six years as a series, Precious Metal is coming to an end:

Friends, I am proud to announce the Grand Finale of Precious Metal. After 6.66 years and over 300 events, the series I started in May of 2006 will come to an end on January 21, 2013.

We had a good run! Monday after Monday, we brought all sorts of heaviness from across the city and around the globe (Iceland, Italy, Australia...) into the den of Downtown grime and glamour that is Lit. These forces combined and added up to something special. I like to think we played a part in the resurgence of a New York City metal scene, one which now looks stronger than ever.

Upcoming events at Precious Metal include this Monday (12/17) with Tiger Flowers, Meek is Murder, I am Heresy and Black Table; January 7 with Ghostlimb & The Year is One and yours truly on DJ duties; January 14 with Jar'd Loose, Gentlemen, End it and DJ Mike SOS; and the finale on January 21, a benefit for South Sound featuring Hivesmasher, Fashion Week, Flaming Tusk, SOS and DJ Zeena Koda. Make sure and get to the shows and wave goodbye to metal in the Lit Lounge basement. It will be missed.